TECH

Government of Iran re-establishes access to Telegram
The popular application can again be used on mobile phones without the need to use virtual private networks (VPNs) or other tools to circumvent the Government's filter, according to the Spanish news agency Efe.Iran's official IRNA official also reported that authorities have eliminated restrictions on the messenger service on Saturday night.The social network has more than 40 million supporters in Iran and was one of those used to call for protests at the end of December against price hikes and corruption and that have even challenged the Islamic Republic's own system.The demonstrations degenerated into riots, having died at the time about two dozen people and a thousand more were detained.Iranian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Esmail Yabarzade said on December 31 that the blockade of the network was temporary and that it was a normal measure in a crisis situation."When there is some conflict it is natural to use some tools to control illegal concentrations," he said at the time.Another social network very popular in Iran and used to mobilize the population, Instagram, was also temporarily blocked by the Government at the time of the protests, which lasted for six days.


Lusa